The ride
The Grizzly is a wood roller coaster built by Kings Island at California's Great America in NorCal County Fair, California, having opened to the public in 1986. After 40 seasons of operation it remains one of the defining attractions on the California's Great America midway, drawing repeat riders who track every subtle change to its trains, restraints and station soundtrack.
On paper the ride is a serious thrill machine. It climbs 91 ft above the park before pitching forward into its first descent. That opening drop measures 88 ft, long enough to pin riders against their restraints and pull a prolonged moment of weightless airtime over the lap-bar. Trains reach a top speed of 55.0 mph before the first turnaround, where the layout opens up into a sequence of lateral and vertical elements. In total the track stretches 325 ft, giving the experience a distinctly long-form feel rather than the punchy one-and-done character of many modern compact coasters. enthusiast trip-planning resources
Coasters from Kings Island have a recognizable signature in track shaping, train design and the way transitions are paced. Riders familiar with other Kings Island installations will pick up on the same DNA in The Grizzly's layout, particularly through its station design and the sound profile of the running gear.
Plan to ride The Grizzly early in the day or during the final hour before park close, when standby waits at California's Great America typically drop. Single-rider lines and early-entry ticketing programs, when available at California's Great America, are usually the fastest ways to get repeat rides on a busy day. broader coaster community archives
In CoasterVault's ranking tables, The Grizzly currently appears in our 174th position for fastest coasters, 167th position for biggest drops lists, reflecting where its core stats place it among operating coasters in the United States. These rankings move whenever a new installation opens, so the position should be read as a snapshot rather than a permanent record.